Rocky View Schools (RVS) has announced its representative for this year’s Alberta School Board’s Association’s (ASBA) Edwin Parr Award.
The 2015 Edwin Parr Award nominee from RVS is Joshua Lafleur from Ecole Manachaban Middle School in Cochrane.
“Mr. Lafleur develops such a warm and supportive environment in class,” said Ecole Manachaban Middle School principal Thomas Elbel in a press release. “Students and their parents have commented on it on numerous occasions.”
“It was the right move (for me) to move to Alberta,” said Lafleur. “I moved here for Rocky View (Schools).”
“I knew based on their website, talking to them and in my interview, that (RVS) was where I wanted to be.”
Born in Ottawa and living in Toronto for the past 10 years, the York University graduate left Ontario for Alberta before the 2014/15 school year after completing his practicum in Toronto.
“I’m really happy to be (in Alberta),” said Lafleur.
Lafleur is currently a Grade 6 teacher at Ecole Manachaban where he teaches all subjects to his French immersion class. In his first year he also assisted with extracurricular activities such as the basketball team and Newspaper Club.
Lafleur said he wants to project himself as a teacher that helps his students find what kind of learners they are and how they can conduct themselves for education. He takes time out of each day to talk with children and have one-on-one conversations to help them grow as students.
“I try to help (students) learn how they learn,” said Lafleur. “I tell (the children) all the time I’m not here to teach to them, I’m their coach and guide.”
“Mr. Lafleur’s practice reflects deep understanding of the various learning styles students possess,” said Elbel.
Lafleur has also been an advocate for the new Google Classroom program and the inclusion of technology in his instruction. Google Classroom provides students and their teacher with a way to share documents, videos and conversations through Google Drive. It is a safe way for students to share ideas amongst their peers, Lafleur said.
“Mr. Lafleur quickly established himself as a humble go-getter who was able to single-handedly bring quite a few staff members on board with Google Classroom,” said Elbel.
Lafleur is currently working towards his masters degree in education with the University of Calgary.
The Edwin Parr Award is an annual award that was first presented in 1964. It is awarded to a first-year teacher in Alberta who has taught a minimum of 100 full-time equivalent days within a current school year.
“I started hearing buzz about this new teacher very early in the school year,” said RVS board chair Colleen Munro at the March 19 board of trustees meeting. “It’s great to see him recognized.”
With files from Joel Dryden
